topic Re: AutoCAD LT 2017 3DConnexion Space Navigator/Mouse Randomly Stops Working... in AutoCAD Forum

AutoCAD LT 2017 3DConnexion Space Navigator/Mouse Randomly Stops Working...

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 15:35:57 GMT

I just recently got a new computer for work (Win 7 Pro x64). Loaded it up with AutoCAD LT 2017 and plugged in my 3DConnexion Space Navigator. Downloaded the newest drivers at the time (10.4.4). Here's my issue, when I open up drawings in ACAD, my mouse works like it's supposed to, allowing me to pan/zoom all around the drawing. However, randomly, it stops panning/zooming. When I attempted to pan/zoom with the 3D mouse, the crosshairs would switch to the mouse pointed like it normally does when it's working and moving, but the screen stays still. It's not like ACAD is lagging, because I can still use the mouse wheel to pan/zoom, and still click on items in the drawings. I did notice my buttons still work on the 3D mouse, I have my right button set to zoom extents. And if I press that, it zooms extents. But still wont move. What I found though to get it working again, is if I click on another drawing tab to bring that drawing forward, then go back to my original drawing, it starts working again (panning/zooming). However, the drawing is not at the same location as it was when I clicked away. For example, if I had the drawing zoomed to extents, then tried zooming the 3D mouse in when it wasn't working, if I clicked on another tab, then came back, the drawing would be super zoomed in. As if it was registering what I was trying to do, but just didn't show it on the screen. The problem is, it will stop working A Lot! It seems to do it about once every 5 - 15 minutes. And I feel like I'm constantly clicking back and forth between tabs just to keep my 3D mouse working.

I go through a descent amount of drawings on the daily, several hundred or so. I also noticed, when I get to the point where I've opened up a descent amount of drawings, the 3D mouse stops working, and clicking back and forth between tabs doesn't fix it anymore. Just guessing, but if I'm going through drawings, then when I get to about 50 drawings or so that I've opened (not all opened at once, but since the last ACAD restart). Past that point, it decides it's done moving around. As before, the side buttons still register, just doesn't do any movement. When it gets to this point, the only way I've found to get it working again is to close all the open drawings and shut down ACAD. Then when I restart ACAD, it decides it wants to work again as above (still randomly stopping every so often).

Has anyone else had this issue, or am I the only one? I figured since it was a brand new computer, and these were one of the first things ever installed on it, that it should work decently, it's not like I've got 5 years worth of random software / services running in the background. I have already tried contacting 3DConnexion, but like they do every time I seem to contact them, they just kinda blew me off and said it wasn't their fault, that it was AutoCAD's fault. So Just wanted to come here and see if there was any hope in getting this thing to work a little more consistently? It seems to work constantly in SolidWorks 2016, just doesn't like CAD for some reason...

Re: AutoCAD LT 2017 3DConnexion Space Navigator/Mouse Randomly Stops Working...

pendean — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 15:56:11 GMT

>>>... they just kinda blew me off and said it wasn't their fault...<<<
Did you tell them you are using LT which, while it honors 3D content already in the file, is not a 3D Solids/model creation software: is it critical to use this device in LT?

>>>...it decides it's done moving around...<<<
You probably need to restart LT after opening and closing 50+ files, sounds like one of both got overwhelmed.

>>>...It seems to work constantly in SolidWorks 2016...<<<
AutoCADLT is not Solidworks, it does not even compare or compete with it on any level.

Read this post I found from last year, it may help (read the rest of that post for more info if you want) http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-2013-2014-2015-2016-2017/3dconnexion-space-mouse-pro-not-functioning-with-autocad-2014/m-p/5892871#M102389

Re: AutoCAD LT 2017 3DConnexion Space Navigator/Mouse Randomly Stops Working...

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 18:23:12 GMT

I realize AutoCAD LT is not aimed at 3D modeling, and that it and SolidWorks don't even compare. I don't do any 3D in AutoCAD LT, I strictly only use it for 2D electrical schematics and plant layouts for industrial factories. So some of these drawings have a lot going on in them and sometimes their sizes can get up there. So I like being able to use the 3D mouse to zip around and zoom in/out a lot easier/faster than with the regular mouse.

In the 3DConnexion settings for AutoCAD LT, I have the rotation option disabled, and only the Pan/Zoom navigation option selected. So it shouldn't even be trying to rotate around an axis and should just want to move along a single plane. I did tell the support guys at 3DConnexion that I was using LT.

I will read over the link you attached and try out what they're suggesting.

Re: AutoCAD LT 2017 3DConnexion Space Navigator/Mouse Randomly Stops Working...

pendean — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 19:30:54 GMT

>>>...zoom in/out a lot easier/faster ...<<<
There are better options for multi-button mouse-choices and LT settings if that's all you want.

Re: AutoCAD LT 2017 3DConnexion Space Navigator/Mouse Randomly Stops Working...

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 20:44:10 GMT

What would the better options be? Do you have any more info?

Re: AutoCAD LT 2017 3DConnexion Space Navigator/Mouse Randomly Stops Working...

pendean — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 20:56:39 GMT

I don't know how you work or what it is you do: how about sharing a video of you in action doing what this mouse can do in LT so everyone here can see and offer up a suggestion or two.

Re: AutoCAD LT 2017 3DConnexion Space Navigator/Mouse Randomly Stops Working...

Anonymous — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 12:49:06 GMT

I'm not doing anything super fancy with it. If I'm working on a layout drawing of a plant that has, lets say, 86 production lines in it, and I'm currently zoomed into Line 18, but then need to go to Line 50 next. I just pull up on the 3D mouse to zoom out the line I'm looking at. I then nudge the 3D mouse to the right so the drawing moves to the right. Then when I'm over the line I need to get closer to, I press down on the 3D mouse so the screen zooms into what I'm looking at. It's strictly all 2D, single plane, non rotated movements. It just beats grabbing the Pan hand and clicking and dragging the screen from right to left about 5 times, and fiddling with the scroll wheel to zoom in and out. I just nudge the 3D mouse in the direction I want the drawing to go, and it goes (usually...)